Unfortunately i dont have a scanner so here goes the manual version!!

Mazda coupe' has RX-appeal

The RX-8 features a rotary engine, roomy rear and radical design that will send shivers through the rest of the class.

Mazda may have been absent from the coupe market since the demise of the RX-7 a few years back, but the Japanese company is right back in the thick of it with the new RX-8.

Mazda has been in good form lately. The MX-5 is still selling like hot cakes and the 6 is mixing with the very best of the family class, so the omens are good for this radical approach to the coupe class.

Radical is a term rarely used these days with any real substance. But the word barely does the RX-8 justice. A quick glance shows this car has the right looks and style but a closer gaze reveals that it is a four-door and that the back doors hinge from the rear to create a completely pillarless design.

The rear hinging allows easy access to the back seats by doing away with the centre pillar that would limit entry and egress. The rear seats are also big enough to cope with proper-size passengers.The centre console extends right through the rear cabin, so the RX-8 has two individual seats in the back.

The rear is not quite as spacious as a mercedes CLK's, but the RX-8 can still accommodate four adults on longer journeys, with loads of room for kids and a reasonable-sized boot. Mazda also provides ISOFIX child seat mounts as standard.

Other standard safety equipment includes twin front, side and curtain airbags, dynamic stability and traction controls, anti-lock brakes and brakeforce distribution. Mazda is also confident the RX-8 will attain a five-star rating when tested by Euro NCAP for crash safety. The company says the lack of a centre pillar would not leave passengers vulnerable in a side impact. That's because the rear door has a reinforced leading edge that, in the event of an accident, acts like a central door post.

The other radical part of the RX-8 is its engine. Rather than use traditional pistons that go up and down in cylinders, the Mazda has two triangular rotors that spin in ellipsoidal chambers. Fuel and air are still drawn in, burnt and expelled as in any other engine, although Mazda has come up with a new way of dealing with exhaust gases.

Called Renesis, the system puts a greater distance between where the fuel/air mix enters and leaves the engine, thereby reducing the risk of the exhaust gases contaminating newly inhaled fuel. Mazda claims it reduces emissions, but no figures were available at the time of writing.

Because of the nature of the rotary engine, its capacity is calculated as 1.3 litres. This makes the RX-8 one of the most powerful cars per litre away from the race-track.

Two versions will be sold in the UK, one producing 189bhp and the other 237bhp. The less powerful engine has slightly more pulling power - 162lb ft versus 157lb ft for the 237bhp model.

We drove the more powerful of the two, and while it needs a few revs to pull away cleanly it doesn't feel hesitant, even if peak pulling power doesn't arrive until 5500rpm.

The rotary engine revs cleanly all the way to its 9000rpm limit, and performance of 0-60mph in 6.0 sec and a top speed of 150mph back this up. In fact, we'd say it feels a little bit quicker, but we'll only be able to confirm this when we test the car in the UK when it goes on sale in July.

Handling is superb. Our drive on a race circuit and over a wide variety of roads showed the RX-8 has unshakeable grip. As a keen drivers car it easily has the measure of an Audi TT,while the steering is also more alert than the Audi's. Despite this, the electrically assisted system could do with a shade more sensitivity when turning into a corner.

The pay off for such superb handling and poise is that the ride at low speeds is on the firm side - but it's no worse than the Audi's.

The more powerful RX-8 uses a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 189bhp model has a five speeder. The six speed box is accurate, with a narrow but clearly defined shift pattern. As with the rest of the RX-8, it rewards an attentive driver without taxing lazier ones.

The controls and instruments are logically arranged in a stylish cabin that has been put together with Mazda's usual attention to detail. The only fault that we could find was that the steering only adjusts for height, although despite this we were still able to find an excellent driving position.

Until Mazda confirms CO2 emmisions, we cannot accurately assess the RX-8s appeal to company drivers, but it is likely to be a popular choice for its looks, style and practicality. The other big attraction is the price.

Go for the 189bhp model and the list price is a fiver shy of £20,000. Opt for the 237bhp version and you'll pay £21,995, which undercuts Audi's 225bhp TT coupe by nearly £5000. This should make the Mazda very popular with private buyers, even if it does only manage a combined fuel economy of 24.3 to the TT's 30.1.

Verdict Mazda's RX-8 takes radical design and makes it easy to use, leaving it hugely practical while being one of the best car's to drive in its class. At this price, Audi TT customers now have a serious alternative.



What Car? SAYS
Drives as well as it looks, and practical too. (5 stars)

 

As a exiting Audi TTC driver this sound great.

Thanks smiles.

rael.

 

No worries Rael.

You still undecided on your spec? My dealer informed me today that he needed a decision in order to place my order in front of the queue of internet orders on friday. Went for red, red/black leather, sat nav. Kind of miffed that i havent got a clue what 'velocity red' looks like in the flesh though. Ah well, all adds to the excitment of not knowing what it looks like or drives like before i actually get it!!

Smiles :D

 

I may just do the same, I have a few days left to be undecisive.

IMHO,Silver starting to look a bit bland now (and common) and Mazda 6 grey still too dark for this country and 9 months winter weather.

The blue is really what I want.

rael.